MOLLY AITKEN was born in Scotland in 1991 and brought up in Ireland. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University where she was awarded the Janklow and Nesbit Prize for her novel.
Crescendo (2026) Jane Healey "Phenomenal and compulsive, a simmering tale of sibling rivalry and the heady world of classical music. It is really a love story, a love of music, a love of siblings, a love of life. The prose was tender, sexy even and most importantly precise: as accomplished as a virtuoso pianist playing a sonata. I found the ending unexpected and bruising. Terrific."
Life Cycle of a Moth (2025) Rowe Irvin "As gentle and tender as it is dark and unsettling, Life Cycle of a Moth depicts a complex mother daughter relationship in a strange yet familiar setting. The prose is biting and rich, echoing the rankness and brittle beauty of the natural world. The mysteries at the novel's heart kept me riveted."
The Tarot Reader of Versailles (2025) Anya Bergman "A gorgeously written, at times fantastical and deeply immersive novel, The Tarot Reader of Versailles had me captivated from the first page. Truly, historical fiction at its best."
Universality (2025) Natasha Brown "Universality is a rare novel. It's bold and brilliant. The humor is wry and, at times, cutting. But more than that, it's an intelligent and humorous examination of class and wealth - and a real page-turner to boot. I will read anything Natasha Brown writes."
Mere (2025) Danielle Giles "This is historical fiction at its most captivating. Mere is a story about fear and survival, each page crackling with intrigue . . . Simmering with secrets and ultimately love, I was swept away by this book."
The Lamb (2025) Lucy Rose "This is the book I've been waiting for. Dark, twisted and utterly enthralling, The Lamb is a novel I will never forget. Lucy Rose's prose gave me chills, perfectly capturing the horrors and beauties of girlhood. Dear reader, I predict you will be as obsessed as I am."
The Edge of Solitude (2024) Katie Hale "Fascinating, immersive and brilliantly poised. Essential reading for all humans. We don't have enough books like it."
The Modern Fairies (2024) Clare Pollard "Lush and gossipy, rich and wonderfully indulgent. The Modern Fairies is wickedly playful yet lingers, with emotional truth, long after reading. A feast of a novel. I dare you to read it!"
Okay Days (2023) Jenny Mustard "A beautiful, bruising novel about love, sex and finding your place in the world. Okay Days is tender and humorous and ultimately uplifting. Sam and Lucas are unforgettable. Simply brilliant."
The Ophelia Girls (2021) Jane Healey "A bruising and beautiful novel about girlhood and desire. Set over two heady summers, The Ophelia Girls perfectly captures the power and vulnerability of being a teenage girl. Within its flower-strewn pages, girls float carelessly down rivers and fall in love with devastating consequences. It's an immersive and intoxicating summer read with the long-lasting feel of a classic. I was captivated by it."
